The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, or Rock Island Bridge, is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in downtown Little Rock, near the Clinton Presidential Center. It connects Little Rock with North Little Rock across the Arkansas River and allows pedestrian access to attractions on both sides of the river, including Heifer International, Verizon Arena, Dickey Stephen Park, River Market, and Argenta Arts District. It is one of the “Six Bridges” of Little Rock.
The bridge is also part of the Arkansas River Trail system and completes a 15-mile continuous loop. Before the completion of the bridge, cyclists and walkers had to stop and board an elevator or stairs to cross the river at the crossing bridge. The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge allows for non-stop travel around the River Trail.
Where and when you can visit
The Little Rock entrance to the bridge is in Clinton Presidential Park at 1200 President Clinton Avenue (map). North Little Rock’s entrance is on Ferry Street (map), near a residential neighborhood.
All River Trail bridges are open 24/7 unless otherwise announced and are pet and bike friendly.
You can exit the bridge in Little Rock at the celebration circle and head to the Clinton Presidential Library and Heifer International, or continue along the River Trail to River Market and other downtown destinations.
There is not much to do directly on the river on the North Little Rock side, but there is access to the River Trail. The Argenta Historic District and the Verizon Arena are just a short walk on that side. North Little Rock has plans to renovate the area.
Story
The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge is also known as the Rock Island Bridge and is a former railway bridge. This bridge was built in 1899 for the Choctaw and Memphis Railroad and led to Choctaw Station. Choctaw Station is now home to the Clinton School for Public Service, the Clinton Public Policy Institute, and the Clinton Foundation.
The Rock Island Bridge renovation took 7 years to complete. The Clinton Foundation agreed to renovate the bridge in its 2001 formal application to lease land for the Little Rock Clinton Presidential Center for $ 1 a year. They estimated the project at $ 4 million and had planned to open the bridge in 2004 in conjunction with the Clinton Presidential Center. However, those cost estimates turned out to be too low, in part due to an increase in the cost of steel. The renovation project actually needed $ 10.5 million, which no one was able to finance.
Construction on the project began in 2010 after $ 2.5 million in stimulus funds from the US Economic Development Administration completed the fundraiser. Other sources of funding for the bridge include $ 1 million from Little Rock, $ 4 million from the Clinton Foundation, $ 2.5 million from the state, $ 750,000 from North Little Rock, and $ 250,000 from private donors.
The bridge opened on October 2, 2011.
Bill Clark Wetland Park
In conjunction with the bridge, the land around the site was also renovated. Bill Clark Wetland Park is 13 acres of land along the Arkansas River, complete with walking paths, elevated walkways, and interpretive exhibits. The park is designed so that the parts remain intact, preserving the wildlife and plants in the area.
Interesting data
The bridge was originally a swing span bridge, but a lift span was added in 1972 to meet the requirements of the McClellan-Kerr navigation system.
The bridge is 1,614 feet long.
Bill Clinton at the Bridge Project
“The conversion of the historic rail bridge to a pedestrian walkway will give Central Arkansas a distinctive landmark and complete one of the best urban trail systems in the country. By connecting important destinations, including my Presidential Center, the bridge will also support revitalization efforts in downtown Little Rock.
The six bridges
One of the most prominent features of the Little Rock skyline has always been the “six bridges” over the Arkansas River. The Clinton Presidential Center was designed to resemble a bridge in reference to that horizon. Those six bridges are the Baring Cross Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Main Street Bridge, Junction Bridge, I-30 Bridge, and Rock Island Bridge.
Another set of bridges is being designed to connect the parks along the Arkansas River and allow people to walk or bike from downtown Clinton to Pinnacle Mountain and the Ouachita Trail. Four of those bridges are open: the Two Rivers Bridge, the Big River Bridge, the Junction Bridge, and the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge.
